| Show HIU m lc ON f NeW t tHIU WA lEARS Ds eVE v 6 Marion an ant 64 EW BW YEARS YEAR'S EVE brought with It s special problems problem t for Mrs Thorpe She had been heen separated sep ep orated from her ber r husband for or over six m months 0 nth s. s In ID Inthe Inthe the mea meantime n m e however she was In rather an awkward awkward awkward awk awk- ward position socially Hostesses never ner- ner er knew whether to treat her as a married or an unmarried woman oman Besides Besides Besides Be Be- sides she was never sure that mat mat 1 wouldn't be further complicated by meeting Jack Thorpe her ber erstwhile husband at one of the parties Helen had received six Invitations to New Years Year's eve parties but decided tot to decline them all The Tho es had had a little house on a n quiet road In Surrey and as the holiday sea season SOD advanced Helenb Helen b began e a n to longmore Ion long longmore g gm more m more re and more for the comfortable comfortable comfortable comfort comfort- able fireside and I the peace of the little red house b Forthwith s she be packed her things thIngs' and left word that she would not return return re ra re- re turn to Lond London n until after atter N New e w Years Jack T Thorpe 0 rp e V opened the last last of a p pile le of letters letten letterson on his hi desk A great many were l Invitations to holIday holiday hol hol- i iday parties Dash sh a-sh It said sald Thorpe Im sick lick of I I. I all aU this tiresome som business Id I'd like to get off a thousand miles mUes from everi- everi every every- one I have It I Hillcrest There There willbe will willbe V VAnd be no one there there I 1 And that night he packed his ball bag balland and left word with I his s valet th that t he would be alone tirone at his old home la In Surrey If If anything Important should turn up He sank back In the comfortable cushions of h his s couch happy with the prospects ot of spending n ln three whole days ays alone In the little old I-e I ted red house Great Scott Scotti 1 I he lie exclaimed when he lie opened the door This Tills looks like old times 1 Who the devils devil's been beem In Inhere In here Everything was clean clean and and In order Then he noticed there were flowers on the table table chrysanthemums Helens Helen's favorites Could It be r be-r good be good goodLord Lord was Lord was I-was was Helen In the house He He was about to leave when a frightened voice called from tram the kitchen th there And before anyone could answer answer an nn- the door opened and Helen Ina In Ina ina a large w white apron stood wide-eyed wide staring at her husband Jack Thorpe 1 I How dare you come here she asked when her surprise h had d ebbed ebbed sufficiently sum sum to allow alley her ber to sp speak ak Dont trouble Jack Interrupted Im going Imme imme- You dont don't suppose I came here to see you do you You dont don't suppose that If It I I 7 had any Idea you were within 11 five va m miles 11 e s of this place Id I'd h have a v 8 V bothered to come uJ Jack a c k Thorpe you beast gh tru of An Another ther of their old old-f old fashioned a s b Ion e d quarrels followed which was all the themore themore more heated since they were both much In love but each felt a a tremendous tremendous tremendous dous grievance against t the e other Soon V 1 Helen was In tears Jack never never could 1 stand to see her In tears tears 1 Here take these be he said and I handed her tie smelling salts alts She pushed them aside and ond their hands met Jack looked up at at her fully tully Why In heaven did she have bavo to go and cry She was altogether er disarming ng In tears Im a dog Helen an out and myself for beast and I loathe saying such things Ive I've tr treated ate r you you miser miser- misery ably Lord Lord If I I ever could do doo anything to make It up to you I But nut Its It's too late of course Its It's too late Inte His voice betrayed all the l heartbreakIng heart break Ing lug remorse he had stored up In the six m months of t their separation put her hand tenderly on Jacks Jack's der Dont talk like Uke that Jack please j dont don't rye Ive been such ucb a miserable cat catto catto to you I was wag That evening New Years Year's eve the happiest the had spent courtship since the days duys of ot their Thank goodness for tor a New Year Tear said Helen lleren I 1 want to put the old behind me and forget every day dayot one her ta taco face c one her of ot It and the new one I Jack Ira Ilu brightened the the the new one slam to happiness anil aDlI going gain to dedicate minute of ot to It trying to b be ha bethe spend every perfect wife In fn the world most moat the r Union p N w p L 1 i ll |
